A wall switch device and a power outlet device are described. In one embodiment, the wall switch device includes a wall switch plate, a component integral to a receptacle on the wall switch plate, a control charging module, and an AC power input. The wall switch plate is fastened to a light switch module on a wall. The control charging module includes electrical contacts corresponding to electrical contacts on the component. The control charging module also includes a circuit board and an integrated circuit board. The AC power input supplies power to the component. Power from the AC power input is converted to DC power by the control charging module so that the power may be used to charge the component.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A wall switch device comprising: a wall switch plate for fastening to a light switch module on a wall; a component integral to a receptacle on the wall switch plate; a control charging module including electrical contacts to contact corresponding electrical contacts on the component, the control charging module also including a printed circuit board and an integrated circuit; and an AC power input to supply power to the component, power from the AC power input converted to DC power by the control charging module so that the power may be used to charge the component.
2. The wall switch device of claim 1 further comprising a data transceiver on the wall switch device to allow the wall switch device to send and receive data via power wires coupled to the AC power input.
3. The wall switch device of claim 2 wherein the data is sent and received from a network.
4. The wall switch device of claim 3 wherein the network is Internet.
5. The wall switch device of claim 2 wherein the data is sent and received from a second wall switch device.
6. The wall switch device of claim 1 further comprising a wireless transceiver base on the wall switch device to allow the wall switch device to send and receive data via a wireless transfer protocol.
7. The wall switch device of claim 6 wherein the data is sent and received from a network.
8. The wall switch device of claim 7 wherein the network is Internet.
9. The wall switch device of claim 6 wherein the data is sent and received from a second wall switch device.
10. The wall switch device of claim 6 wherein the wireless transfer protocol is IEEE 802.11b.
11. The wall switch device of claim 1 further comprising a wireless transceiver base located separately from the wall switch device to send and receive data via a wireless transfer protocol.
12. The wall switch device of claim 11 wherein the wireless transfer protocol is IEEE 802.11b.
13. The wall switch device of claim 1 wherein the receptacle on the wall switch plate is a dock.
14. The wall switch device of claim 1 wherein the AC power input supplies 120 V power to the component.
15. The wall switch device of claim 1 wherein the component is a display.
16. The wall switch device of claim 15 wherein the display includes a plurality of buttons and a user interface.
17. A power outlet device comprising: a power outlet plate for fastening to a light switch module on a wall; a component integral to a receptacle on the power outlet plate; a control charging module including electrical contacts to contact corresponding electrical contacts on the component, the control charging module also including a printed circuit board and an integrated circuit; and a power input to supply power to the component, power from the power input converted by the control charging module so that the power may be used to charge the component.
18. The power outlet device of claim 17 further comprising a data transceiver on the power outlet device to allow the power outlet device to send and receive data via power wires coupled to the AC power input.
19. The power outlet device of claim 18 wherein the data is sent and received from a network.
20. The power outlet device of claim 19 wherein the network is Internet.
21. The power outlet device of claim 18 wherein the data is sent and received from a second power outlet device.
22. The power outlet device of claim 17 further comprising a wireless transceiver base on the power outlet device to allow the power outlet device to send and receive data via a wireless transfer protocol.
23. The power outlet device of claim 22 wherein the data is sent and received from a network.
24. The power outlet device of claim 23 wherein the network is Internet.
25. The power outlet device of claim 22 wherein the data is sent and received from a second power outlet device.
26. The power outlet device of claim 22 wherein the wireless transfer protocol is IEEE 802.11b.
27. The power outlet device of claim 17 further comprising a wireless transceiver base located separately from the power outlet device to send and receive data via a wireless transfer protocol.
28. The power outlet device of claim 27 wherein the wireless transfer protocol is EEE 802.11b.
29. The power outlet device of claim 17 wherein the receptacle on the power outlet plate is a dock.
30. The power outlet device of claim 17 wherein the AC power input supplies 120 V power to the component.
31. The power outlet device of claim 17 wherein the component is a display.
32. The power outlet device of claim 31 wherein the display includes a plurality of buttons and a user interface.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
August 1, 2001
February 11, 2003
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